As an indication of the influence of the oil boom on CBC, at the same board meeting the agenda included a report on the college’s customized and continuing education activity for the last six months.

While most of the subjects generated contact hours measured in the hundreds, introduction to petroleum industry courses, offered at the Alice campus, were measured in the multiple thousands.

Next year’s budget, still under development, will be based on the current 3,800 enrollment.

Goodson told the board he believed the proven long-term economic benefits of a college education will maintain the current enrollment.

The board also noted the ironic timing of the increase.

“We are asking students to pay more while at the same time the state is pressuring us to enroll more students,” the president said. “It’s a double-edged sword.”

In a continuing effort to cut expenses, CBC will spend the next three months formulating next year’s budget. Although board members are confident next year’s budget will reflect increased expense cuts, Goodson says extra revenue still will be necessary.